A former deputy assistant to President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at UNC next week.
Sebastian Gorka, who the New York Times described as “an outspoken adviser to President Trump and lighting rod for controversy,” was forced out of his White House role earlier this year. Prior to his stint in the Trump administration, Gorka was an editor at the right-wing website Breitbart. Gorka joined former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon in making the move from Breitbart to the White House. Bannon has since also been forced from his role in the presidential administration and has returned as the executive chairman of Breitbart.
The UNC College Republican chapter along with UNC Christians United for Israel, UNC Turning Point USA and the Carolina Review are sponsoring Gorka’s speech, according to a Facebook page for the event.
The post describes Gorka’s speech as “a riveting conversation on US-Israel relations and the state of Middle Eastern affairs under the Trump administration.”
Controversial speakers associated in any way with the Trump campaign have caused incidents that have sometimes turned violent on college campuses across the country. UNC denied a request from leader of the so-called Alt-Right Richard Spencer to speak on campus earlier this fall citing safety concerns.
Gorka’s speech is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, November 13, with doors opening at 5:15 p.m. in an auditorium at the Genome Science Building. The event page says that “students and faculty only will be admitted and must present a valid university ID. No backpacks or signs allowed.”
This speech comes as the UNC System Board of Governors is considering a free speech policy that resulted from a directive from the North Carolina General Assembly. The policy contains punishments “up to and including dismissal or expulsion, for anyone under the jurisdiction of the constituent institution who substantially disrupts the functioning of the constituent institution or substantially interferes with the protected free expression rights of others.”
The policy encourages parties involved in hosting an event that may draw protests to work together to “minimize the possibility of disruptions and support the right to dissent.”
A board committee passed the policy proposal last week and the full board will consider approving it next month.
Photo via Alex Wong / Getty
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